Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Wednesday, February 10, 2016

 

Property Insurance Reforms Could Keep Down Premium Costs

Never underestimate the ability of the legal class to find new ways to extract money from the insurance industry – and indirectly from the consumer.  The most recent example is related to an esoteric process known as “assignment of benefits.”  Lloyd Brown writes for SunshineStateNews.com.

 

Florida Completes $1.2B Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund Revenue Bond Sale

Florida completed a $1.2 billion in revenue bond sale on Feb. 8 issued by the State Board of Administration Finance Corporation, formerly known as the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund.  Reuters reports via Insurance Journal.

 

Ridesharing firms get support from Florida lawmakers, business groups

A group of state legislators and businesspeople have joined forces to launch Floridians for Ridesharing, a new coalition that supports transportation network companies such as Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft.  The Tampa Bay Business Journal reports.

  

Legislative Session reaches mid-point

With the half-way mark of the 60-day 2016 Legislative Session on Wednesday, the theme so far is like a line from a Frankie Valli song:  “ . . . so close . . . and yet so far.”  Jim Rosica reports for SaintPetersBlog.com.

 

Senate will take dead aim at Governor Scott’s “property tax increase”

Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Senate have been on a collision course for months over how to pay for a big increase in public school spending, and a major showdown is looming on Thursday in a budget subcommittee.  The Tampa Bay Times’ Steve Bousquet reports via “The Buzz” blog.

  

Mass mailing of ballots begins in advance of Florida’s primary

Across Florida Tuesday, hundreds of thousands of ballots headed to homes of voters in advance of next month’s presidential preference primary.   Many minds will be made up long before the polls open in Florida on March 15.  The Tampa Bay Times’ Steve Bousquet reports via “The Buzz” blog.

 

Florida gay rights bill won’t advance after Senate stalemate

It took a decade for Florida’s Republican-dominated Legislature to even listen to a bill to give LGBT people civil rights protections.  When it finally did, the legislation was dead on arrival.  The Associated Press’ Brendan Farrington reports via the Lakeland Ledger.

  

Florida legislation to force detention of illegal immigrants hits dead end

After speeding through the Florida House of Representatives last week, a measure to prevent counties from passing so-called “sanctuary” policies and force them to help federal immigration officials round up illegal immigrants or face massive fines is all but dead in the Senate.  Jeff Schweers reports for the Tampa Tribune.

  

Gambling legislation starts rolling in Florida House

Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature on Tuesday finally took up legislation that would allow the Seminole Tribe of Florida to add craps and roulette at its casinos.  The Associated Press’ Gary Fineout reports via the Bradenton Herald.

 

NAIC Fills President-Elect Post; Mum on New CEO as Nelson Exits

Members of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners have elected Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner Ted Nickel to fill the president-elect position vacated when Sharon P. Clark resigned as Kentucky insurance commissioner on January 11.

 

Software Qualifies as a Driver, Says U.S. Safety Agency on Google Self-Driving Car Compliance

U.S. vehicle safety regulators have said the artificial intelligence system piloting a self-driving Google car could be considered the driver under federal law, a major step toward ultimately winning approval for autonomous vehicles on the roads.  Reuters’ David Shepardson and Paul Lienert report via Insurance Journal.

 

 

 

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